I shouldn't judge since I'm not a mom but...

beth0874 · June 2010

a coffee coolatta for a 4 year old? Really? This does not seem right. Caffeine? All that sugar? I don't get it. But it did get me thinking...

I can't remember the first time I ever had coffee. Do you? How old were you? Do you think there is an appropriate age to let your child have coffee?

CamJack mom · June 2010

my granny started me at 10 drinking coffee with her. I wouldn't do that with my child, but it really is no different than giving them a large coke. I don't let my kids drink soda very often, but to each his own.

voeux · June 2010

We had the sweetest British lady who lived with us when I was 2 or 3. She would always let me have afternoon tea with her. I hated coffee until college!

kelstar824 · June 2010

I think that's awful! My Aunt use to put Coke in my cousins baby bottle.. lets just say shes not the picture of perfect health.

I started drinking coffee around 16 however I don't even like the idea of my 17 year old Stepson drinking it...

ConnCottager · June 2010

I didn't start drinking coffee until college. I actually wish I started earlier - I love it! I only have one cup a day usually, so it's not like I love it so much I'm constantly drinking, but I love sitting with a good cup of coffee...relaxing!

MrsMarriedIn04 · June 2010

My gram used to give us coffee at 4-5yrs old when we had sleep overs at their house. It was mostly milk and a little coffee for coloring in a little mug the size of a shot glass. My parents never let me have coffee as a child, so going to grams house it was a treat. I never really drank coffee until I was into my adult years. I can only remember really ever drinking coffee as a teen once or twice with friends at a coffee house on a Saturday night.

cantalopes24 · June 2010

When I was little my Nana used to make use (decaf) coffee with milk instead of water, think hot chocolate on the stove but coffee instead of cocoa powder. That probably stopped around 6 or 7. And I didnt have coffee again until high school. I however would NEVER do something like that for my son because I feel that the foods we eat now are so much different than even the foods from when I was little (amount of sugar, preservatives, hormones, etc). So I try to cut out things like soda and a lot of other sources of sugar for DS.

SweetP Mare · June 2010

My sister and I grew up drinking coffee, more specifically cafe con leche (we're from Spain), since we were little kids (7 or 8?). The way I look at it, unless you're depriving your kid of caffeinated sodas and caffeinated foods, what's the point...then again, both my sister and I are slight caffeine junkies so maybe the early start contributed to that! Coffee

kje120 · June 2010

I don't think I started drinking coffee until college (to help with all the all-nighters). But, like PP said, I don't see how it's any worse than letting your kid drink a bunch of cokes. At least coffee doesn't have the mass amounts of calories and sugar (besides what you add).

jayme88 · June 2010

I'm a mom of 2, ages 11 (g) and 2 (b). My 11yr old hasn't had coffee, and only allowed 1-2 soft drinks a week, mainly Sprite, since there is no caffeine. My 2yr old, definitely has not had coffee, and I yell at my DH every time he gives him some of his Pepsi. Drives me crazy when he does it. He does not need to know what soda tastes like..

As for me, I didn't start drinking coffee until I had my 2nd child. I was a tea drinker from about 12 yrs old.

LifetimeOfLove · June 2010

I loved coffee ice cream as a kid but didn't start liking hot coffee until college. The only time I was ever allowed to even have the coffee ice cream was at my grandmother's!

Citygirl1015 · June 2010

I started drinking cappucino's in highschool, but only once in a while.

I would never let my 4yo have a coffee coolata, that just seems wrong. Not only is not good for the child, but it will also be a PITA for me to deal with my kid bouncing off the walls from the caffiene and sugar.

blynn03 · June 2010

I've never had coffee, probably never will. I don't even like the smell of it. I'm more of a pop drinker, but I've been really cutting back since TTC (I typically only drink caffeine free, but have regular every once in a while). My DH drinks a lot of coffee, though.

I definitely want to limit the amount of caffeine and other process crap that my future children get. Not to say they'll never have any of it, but it will be a rarity, not a staple! I'm going to try super hard to get them to like more of a variety of foods than I do (there are a lot of vegetables that I wish I could eat because they are healthy but I just can't stand).

Jenlynn24 · June 2010

I've never really liked coffee at all (unless of course it's all sugary and flavoured up...but then it's just bad for you )

At 4 years old, you wouldn't catch my child drinking anything other than water, milk and juice (unless it was a special occasion)...

jteneback · June 2010

My sister lets her son (2) have a sip of coffee drinks and Diet Coke and I give her the side-eye. It's not like he drinks it all the time, but he is really developing a taste for it.

Their own Coolatta at 4? Yeah, not so great. Like PP said, not worse than a large Coke, but I wouldn't give my kid that either.

momoftwinsplusone · June 2010

I have to say I don't allow my kids soda I do give them the every once in a while sweet tea but it is made here with splenda and still has caffeine. When I was younger I think my mom started me and my brother both on coffee..well I should say introduced us when we were in highschool and I was hooked ever since but then after I had the twins I slacked off and gave up coffee and most all caffeine.

Ya Never Know · June 2010

I can't exactly remember, but I think it was after I graduated high school, when I got my first job.

alwysbrdmaid · June 2010

No offense but I disagree with you CamJack. I think it is different than a coke. Not that a coke is better because its not but there is tannic acid in coffee and tea. Tannic acid is used to stain wood, tan leather and in the body it lowers your iron. It prevents the iron from being absorbed. Which is especially dangerous in women who struggle with anemia.

curlyhairedboys · June 2010

Jenlynn24:
At 4 years old, you wouldn't catch my child drinking anything other than water, milk and juice (unless it was a special occasion)...

In reference to OP, maybe it was? Maybe it was the kid's last day at preschool and that was the "special treat" for graduating preschool. I would do that for my 4 y/o if he asked. (a small one - I think they make kiddie sizes too) I would definitely plan my day around all that sugar and caffiene, but I probably would do it.

Without knowing the back story, it's easy to judge and I am so guilty of it too!

I started drinking coffee when I was little. My parents used it as a bribe for me and on Sundays after church. It was mostly milk with a shot of coffee (instant). I LOVE coffee and I drink it regularly pretty much since high school.

cantalopes24 · June 2010

Jenlynn24:

I've never really liked coffee at all (unless of course it's all sugary and flavoured up...but then it's just bad for you )

At 4 years old, you wouldn't catch my child drinking anything other than water, milk and juice (unless it was a special occasion)...

A lot of juices have almost much sugar as a can of soda.

SunDrop11 · June 2010

I didn't have coffee until I was in college. Now I love it.

I don't think I even had soda until I was in middle school. My parents didn't let us have it when we were little, and my sister and I never asked for it. My sister still won't drink any of it and she's 23.

~denise~ · June 2010

kelstar824:

I think that's awful! My Aunt use to put Coke in my cousins baby bottle.. lets just say shes not the picture of perfect health.

I started drinking coffee around 16 however I don't even like the idea of my 17 year old Stepson drinking it...

This but its my SIL and she started giving soda to her son at the age of 11 months, in his bottle when he would get fussy. I always judge her for that!

beth0874 · June 2010

curlyhairedboys:
Jenlynn24:

At 4 years old, you wouldn't catch my child drinking anything other than water, milk and juice (unless it was a special occasion)...

In reference to OP, maybe it was? Maybe it was the kid's last day at preschool and that was the "special treat" for graduating preschool. I would do that for my 4 y/o if he asked. (a small one - I think they make kiddie sizes too) I would definitely plan my day around all that sugar and caffiene, but I probably would do it.

Without knowing the back story, it's easy to judge and I am so guilty of it too!

I started drinking coffee when I was little. My parents used it as a bribe for me and on Sundays after church. It was mostly milk with a shot of coffee (instant). I LOVE coffee and I drink it regularly pretty much since high school.

Now that is a good point. Maybe this was a special occasion. I personally wouldn't give my kids (God willing I have one or two some day) coffee, soda, etc but I may give in for a special occasion.

kje120 · June 2010

cantalopes24:
Jenlynn24:

I've never really liked coffee at all (unless of course it's all sugary and flavoured up...but then it's just bad for you )

At 4 years old, you wouldn't catch my child drinking anything other than water, milk and juice (unless it was a special occasion)...

A lot of juices have almost much sugar as a can of soda.

Agreed - juice can be horrible for kids. My sister (a pediatrician) hates when parents are all proud telling her how much juice their kid drinks because they think it's healthy - it's really not. If you look at a lot of them one of their first ingrediants is almost always high fructose corn syrup. And yes, I know there are juices out there that are healthy and aren't necessarily sugar-bombs, but honestly - how many times is that really what the kids are drinking?

CamJack mom · June 2010

No offense taken. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, that is mine, this is yours.

beth0874 · June 2010

~denise~:
kelstar824:

I think that's awful! My Aunt use to put Coke in my cousins baby bottle.. lets just say shes not the picture of perfect health.

I started drinking coffee around 16 however I don't even like the idea of my 17 year old Stepson drinking it...

This but its my SIL and she started giving soda to her son at the age of 11 months, in his bottle when he would get fussy. I always judge her for that!

Excuse me for being naive but wouldn't that make him more fussy?

~denise~ · June 2010

beth0874:
~denise~:
kelstar824:

I think that's awful! My Aunt use to put Coke in my cousins baby bottle.. lets just say shes not the picture of perfect health.

I started drinking coffee around 16 however I don't even like the idea of my 17 year old Stepson drinking it...

This but its my SIL and she started giving soda to her son at the age of 11 months, in his bottle when he would get fussy. I always judge her for that!

Excuse me for being naive but wouldn't that make him more fussy?

Yes... and they wondered why he would refuse milk, juice and water after they started giving him the soda. They now have a 1.5 yo and he will drink whole can of coke(in his bottle) in one sitting... its horrible

Ricola · June 2010

I don't think I would buy it for my 4 year-old either, but I would probably let him/her take a sip of mine every now and then.

I started to drink coffee when I was 17 years old and have 1 cup every morning, but it has to have sugar and milk in it for me to like it Coffee

tashaobrien · June 2010

I've never liked coffee. But, I love tea and remember drinking it since I was little. I haven't had a soda in about 15 years and I really don't miss it. So, my kids probably won't be having ancoffee and will most likely only have soda when DH gives it to them which will probably be always since he LOVES soda.

alwysbrdmaid · June 2010

Ok so I'm not a coffee drinker by any means. But isn't it an acquired taste? What four year old has that taste acquired? I've tried it a couple times and never liked it. It was even the super sugary stuff and couldn't get past that coffee taste.

cantalopes24 · June 2010

kestock120:
cantalopes24:
Jenlynn24:

I've never really liked coffee at all (unless of course it's all sugary and flavoured up...but then it's just bad for you )

At 4 years old, you wouldn't catch my child drinking anything other than water, milk and juice (unless it was a special occasion)...

A lot of juices have almost much sugar as a can of soda.

Agreed - juice can be horrible for kids. My sister (a pediatrician) hates when parents are all proud telling her how much juice their kid drinks because they think it's healthy - it's really not. If you look at a lot of them one of their first ingrediants is almost always high fructose corn syrup. And yes, I know there are juices out there that are healthy and aren't necessarily sugar-bombs, but honestly - how many times is that really what the kids are drinking?

Agreed. The only juice DS really drinks is V8, and only because aside from corn occasionally he will starve before he eats veggies. He gets one 8 ounce serving. Thats not even everyday, alot of times I just make him smoothies with fresh fruit, ice, veggies, and a small amount of vanilla ice cream, Other than that it's mostly water because he gets clacium from a lot of other sources so I'm not super pressed on milk drinking. I can't believe how bad a lot of things are that I didn't realize before DS, and there are a lot of things I thought were bad that aren't!

BonitaKaz · June 2010

Personally, I probably wouldn't give my child their own at that age, but I would probably let them have drinks of mine.

The only thing I know of some parents that do that gets on my nerves is letting them take sips of their alcohol.

*Scuzzlebutt* · June 2010

I remember sneaking sips of my Gramma's coffee when I was 3 or 4. She used to leave her cup sitting on the table and my brother and I would taste it each time she left the room.

I started drinking coffee on a regular basis when I was 16. I think that was an ok time to start. Once my friends and I started driving, we would always stop for drive-thru coffee on our way to school. I see no reason to give a young child/toddler coffee, though, I guess if she wanted to try it when she was a teen I would let her, with limits.

Clara isn't allowed to have pop (or coffee of course) I just don't see a place for that in a child's diet (and this is coming from someone who loves Diet Pepsi...I always feel guilty when we go out and I order her white milk and I get a sweet tea or a pepsi as a treat for myself, lol) A coffee coolatta is just as sugary/caffeine laden as pop, I bet.

*Mrs*M* · June 2010

Oh my. All the sugar and caffeine... yikes.

alwysbrdmaid · June 2010

BonitaKaz:

The only thing I know of some parents that do that gets on my nerves is letting them take sips of their alcohol.

That really pisses me off. Alcohol at any age under than 21 is just stupid. The brain isn't fully formed and it inhibits growth. There's a really good commercial out here that I can't find online right now but it kind of explains what happens at different ages.

I am guilty of drinking some as a minor (I started at 18) but looking back the thing that bothered me the most is that my friends parents were fully aware of the drinking that went on and let her have parties almost weekly. They considered it the safe place to drink but never took away car keys or offered their services as a DD.

mdluv21 · June 2010

4 is a little young for this possibility but my niece has coffee everyday. She has ADD and the medicine made her a zombie so my SIL, gives her a copy of coffee every morning before school and caffeine has the opposite affect on her - it calms her down and helps her to focus.

She only does this on school days though...they other she is just her crazy self. Smile

mdluv21 · June 2010

4 is a little young for this possibility but my niece has coffee everyday. She has ADD and the medicine made her a zombie so my SIL, gives her a copy of coffee every morning before school and caffeine has the opposite affect on her - it calms her down and helps her to focus.

She only does this on school days though...they other she is just her crazy self. Smile

sassyandskinny · June 2010

I judge anyone who gives children soda or coffee or those stupid fruit "juices" that actually do not contain any fruit.

My 5 YO has never had a sip of any of these. ?I am a huge coke drinker, but I know that it is terrible for me and there is no way in good?conscious?I could allow him a taste. ?It is vile that others do this.?

KCooker · June 2010

I grew up drinking nothing but water and homemade juice. I didn't have my first sip of soda until 5th or 6th grade and it hurt my throat and stomach so I never really had the desire to continue drinking it. I had a few cups of coffee in college but never enjoyed the taste, I don't think I've drank a caffeinated beverage in 7 years and my future children certainly won't be!